Hanger switch



1962 c. E. SACKETT, JR 3,063,384

HANGER SWITCH Filed April 24, 1961 38 v Fig.1-

i 'I an INVENTOR. GHARLESEDW/A/SAG/(ETZJR ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,063,384 -Patented Nov. 13, 1962 3,063,384 HANGER SWITCH Charles Edwin Sackett, Jr., 52 Alvarado St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Apr. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 105,080 8 Claims. (Cl. 104-103) The invention, in general, relates to overhead rails or tracks utilized principally in meat packing houses or warehouses and the like for transferring loads from one location to another, such as into and out of cooling rooms, with a minimum of effort. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved switch and hanger combination in the aforesaid environment.

While there have been heretofore devised a considerable number and variety of overhead track switches of the type employed in packing house installations, these prior devices, in the main, are of such complex and expensive construction as to be economically prohibitive especially in small meat packing houses handling relatively small volumes of sides of meat or other loads during any given period. The present invention is directed to the provision of an integral hanger and switch combination of relatively simple construction and requiring little maintenance expense.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an im proved hanger switch for overhead rail installations which can be readily and facilely manipulated by even an unskilled operator to place either a straight or a curved rail section in alignment with main rail lines with a minimum of effort and in a minimum of time.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved hanger switch of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by the inclusion of latching mechanism for holding rail sections in their set positions upon the throwing of the switch in one direction or another. 1 1 Another important object of my invention is to provide an improved hanger switch of the aforementioned character which can be installed in an overhead trackway with facility and with a minimum of expense.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiment shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the several components thereof, as my invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as installed in a conventional overhead trackway, the latter including the carrier component being shown in fragmentary view.

FIG. 2 is a reduced top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the switch in a position to divert the load onto a curved and diverging rail line.

I FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the hanger switch thrown to a different position to permit the carrier to transfer the load in a straight line from one location to another. I As is well known to those skilled in the art, there are junctions at a plurality of points or locations in many overhead trackways, and it is to be understood that it is at such locations that my improved hanger switch units are to be installed-and employed so that in any given meat packing house or warehouse or the like, there may be a plurality of my hanger switch combinations installed and utilized. Moreover, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiment of my invention as illusshown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a diversion of the carrier in the direction of the arrows to one side of a main rail, it is clear that by turning the switch components through the load carrier may be transferred to the opposite side of the main line than that shown in FIG. 2. Thus, with my improved hanger switch installed, the loads can be transferred in straight line directions or in directions on opposite sides of a straight main line. It is to be further understood that when the term curved rail section is employed herein, the term is to be construed as embracing any section diverging from a straight main line or main line section.

As particularly illustrated in FIG. 1 of the annexed drawings, my improved hanger switch combination for overhead trackways includes a hanger component which is designated generally by the reference numeral 11 and to which are secured a pair of hingedly connected curved rail sections 12 and 13, a main line rail 14, and a pair of hingedly connected straight line rail sections 16 and 17 which are supported in alignment with one another and with main line rail 14 as well as another main line rail 18; the latter rails being separated parts of an overhead track-way at a junction point in the trackway system, as hereinabove explained, and being supported at the same elevation. I

.The hanger 11 conveniently is formed to a generally U-shape with a leg 21 thereof extending horizontally and above the aforementioned rail sections; the leg 21 of the hanger being formed with a hole 22 therethrough for passing a screw-bolt, not shown, whereby the hanger can be detachably secured to an overhead beam, also not shown, or other support. The other leg 23 of the U-shaped hanger 11 preferably is fashioned with off-set portions, as shown, for added strength, and the two legs 21 and 23 are connected together by a spanning web 24 which normally will be disposed vertically when the hanger switch of the present invention is installed in operative position. Through the medium of screw-bolts 26 and 27, respectively, the leg 23 of the hanger 11 is secured to and supports main line rail section 14 and the fixed section 16 of the hingedly connected straight line sections 16 and 17 constituting portions of the switch component of the present invention. The hingedly connected curved rail sections 12 and .13 are secured to and supported by the hanger component '11 by means of an arm 28 having a fore-arm 29 extending at right angles to the arm 28; the arm and fore-arm being welded, respectively, to the underside of leg 21 of the hanger 11 and to one side of the fixed section 12 of the hingedly connected curved rail sections 12 and 13 which constitute additional parts of the switch component of the present invention. Standard hinges 31 and 32 are employed for hingedly or pivotally connecting together the curved rail sections 12 and 13 and the straight sections 16 and 17, respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for interconnecting the switch components 12, 13, 16 and 17 for movement in unison whenever switching operations are desired to be carried out. These means preferably comprisean L-arm 36 which is welded or otherwise securely fastened to the exterior surface of hinged curved rail section 13 and which extends outwardly therefrom, .a bar 37, welded or otherwise securely fastened to the exterior surface of the hinger straight rail section 17 and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a generally inverted U-shaped member or frame .38 which is mounted on the L-arm 36 and fixedly secured to the bar 37. As shown, the generally inverted U-shaped member or frame 38 includes a depending straight leg 39 which is Welded or otherwise anchored to the bar 37 and supported thereby in a vertical position, and the member 38 includes a depending leg 41 which is oif-set laterally adjacent to its lower end and which carries in spaced relationship to one another a pair of spaced guide rings 42 and 43 which encircle the L-arm 36 and which exert a pull or a push thereon when the switch is thrown in one direction or the other.

In addition to the foregoing elements, the switch components include means for moving the curved rail section 13 and the straight rail section 17 in unison and in two opposite directions to align either the curved rail sections 12 and 13 with the main line rail 18 or to align the straight rail section 17 with the hingedly connected rail section 16 as well as with both main rail sections 14 and 18. To this end, I provide a lever, designated generally by the reference numeral 46, and pivotally mount the same by means of a pivot pin 47 to a lug 48 secured to and projecting from the outer surface of the straight rail section 17. I also provide a selector 49 which is welded or otherwise securely fastened to the exterior surface of the reduced extension 18 of the main rail line 18 and which depends therefrom in the form of a crank to afford a depending vertical portion 51 and an integral horizontally extending portion 52. In addition, I provide a strong tension spring 53 for retaining the lever 46 in each of its extreme thrown positions and thus latch the switch in each of or both of the positions in which it may be thrown; the spring 53 conveniently being anchored at its one end to a lug 48', which is secured to and extends from the reduced extension 18' of track section 18, and. at its other end to a weighted section 46 of the lever 46 to aid in the retention of the lever and the switch in any thrown position. As illustrated in FIG. 2 of the annexed drawings, when the operator desires the curved rail section 13 to be placed in alignment with the main line section 18 of the trackway so as. to divert the loads away from the main line and to a remote point, as indicated by the arrows marked A, the lever 46 is thrown to a position that it will come to rest against the section 52 of the selector 49. The spring 53 urges the lever into engagement with said section 52 and thereby retains the switch in the position to which it has been thrown until the switch is. again manipulated by the operator. In FIG. 3 of the annexed drawings, I have shown the switch in a position so that the load is transferred by the carrier 59 in a straight ahead position, see arrows marked B on the main line from the main line rail 18 onto the main line 14 and through the switch of the present invention. In this position of the switch, the lever 46 rests against the section 51 of the selector 49 and the spring 53 urges the same into engagement with such section 51 to retain the switch in operative position so that the load is carried in a straight line. For convenience, a cable 54 maybe fastened to the outer end of the lever 46 to facilitate movement of the lever by an operator from a position below the overhead trackway.

The meat sides or other loads which are to be transferred from one location to another over the overhead trackway and through the improved hanger switch of my present invention, are carried by the usual means, not shown, supported on a depending arm 56 which is fastened to the flanged Wheels 57 and 58 of a conventional trolley carrier, designated by the reference numeral 59 in the annexed drawings. To limit the swing of the curved rail section 13 and the swing of the straight rail section 17, as they are swung into positions with the main rail lines, -I conveniently mount stop elements 61 and 62, respectively, on these rail sections for abutment with the sides of the main rail line 18 when the curved rail section 13 and the straight, rail .line section 17 are alternately moved into alignment with the main line sections 14 and 18. From the foregoing description and from the illustrations in the annexed drawings, it can be observed that my improved hanger switch is most economically produced and most economically installed. Moreover, the combination can be installed with increased ease and speed thus affording appreciable savings in labor and material costs. Further, the fact that the switch components and the hanger components of my combined hanger switch are formed in a unitary structure, the shipping costs for this unit are at a minimum. It may further be observed that all installations of'my improved hanger switch can be made at the predetermined points in the overhead trackway on suitable beams efore the remainder of the track system is installed. By virtue of this unitary construction of the hanger and switch and components, the improved switch of the present invention affords the smoothest possible operation under the most severe operating conditions. By this construction of hanger switch, the straight track sections 16 and 17 move horizontally simultaneously with the curved track section 13 and the proper switching position is thereby always maintained. Further, by having one or the other of the switch component sections of the track closed, there is no likelihood of any load dropping for failure in connections.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over'the prior art.

I claim:

1. A hanger switch comprising an overhead trackway containing a straight first track section, a reduced extension on said first track section, a straight second track section on the same level as said first track section in spaced relationship to said reduced extension and in alignment with said first track section, a hanger component comprising a first leg having a hole therein for receiving a fastener whereby the hanger component may be detachably mounted on a support above said overhead trackway, a web depending from said first leg to adjacent said second track section of said overhead trackway, a second leg on said web in spaced relationship to. said first leg, and a pair of switch components on said hanger component, said switch components comprising a pair of hingedly connected curved rail sections secured to said first leg of said hanger component with said curved rail sections at the save level as said first and second track sections of said overhead trackway; one of said curved rail sections being of reduced vertical extent than the other of said pair of curved rail sections and constituting a swingable curved rail section, a pair of hingedly connected straight rail sections secured to said second leg of said hanger component at the same elevation as said hingedly connected curved rail sections; one of said hingedly connected straight rail sections being of reduced vertical extent than the other of said pair of straight rail sections and constituting a swingable straight section, means connecting said second track section of said overhead trackway to said second leg of said hanger component, an auxiliary frame slidably interconnecting said swingable curved rail section and said swingable straight rail section to enable said swingable curved rail section to move in unison with the movement of said swingable straight rail section, and a lever connected to said swingable straight rail section for moving the same in two swingable directions on the same level and simultaneously to move said swingable curved rail section in two swingable directions on the same level through the medium of said interconnecting auxiliary frame whereby the said swingable curved rail section and said swingable straight rail section are alternately seated on said reduced extension of said first track section of said overhead trackway.

2. A hanger switch for connection into an overhead trackway containing a reduced extension of a straight track section, said hanger switch comprising a hanger component supportable above the overhead trackway and a pair of switch components alternately seatable on said reduced extension of said straight track section of the overhead trackway, said hanger component comprising a pair of horizontally disposed legs, a spanning web connecting said pair of legs and depending from one of said pair of horizontally disposed legs to support the other of said pair of horizontally disposed legs at the same level as the straight track section of the overhead railway; said pair of switch components comprising hingedly connect/ed curved rail sections of which one is a swingable curve-d rail section, and hingedly connected straight rail sections of which one is a swingable straight rail section, an arm secured to and projecting from said swingable curved rail section, a bar secured to and projecting from said swingable straight rail section, a frame slidably mounted on said arm and secured to said bar and interconnecting said swingable curved rail section to said swingable straight rail section, and means connected to said swingable straight rail section for sliding said frame relative to said swingable curved rail section and for moving said swingable straight rail section as well as said swingable curved rail section at will onto said reduced extension of said straight track section of the overhead trackway.

3. A hanger switch as defined in claim 2, and means for latching said lever in its extreme positions after moving said swingable curved rail section onto said reduced extension of said straight track section of the overhead trackway as well as after moving said swingable straight rail section onto said reduced extension.

4. A hanger switch as defined in claim 2, and a stop element on said swingable curved rail section to limit the movement thereof in one direction of its movement.

5. A hanger switch as defined in claim 2, and a stop element extending from said swingable straight rail section to limit the movement thereof in one direction of its movement.

6. A hanger switch for connection into an overhead trackway containing a straight first track section and a reduced extension on said first track section and a straight second track section on the same level as said first track section in alignment therewith and in spaced relationship to said reduced extension of said first track section; said hanger switch comprising a unitary structure consisting of a hanger component and switch components depending from said hanger component; said hanger component being adapted to be detachably connected to a support above said overhead trackway, said switch components comprising a swingable curved rail section secured to said hanger component and suspended therefrom at the same level as said overhead trackway, and a swingable straight rail section secured to said hanger component and suspended therefrom at the same level as said overhead trackway, means slidably connecting together said swingable curved rail section and said swingable straight rail section; said means comprising an arm secured to said swingable curved rail section and extending outwardly therefrom, a bar secured to said swingable straight rail section and a U-shaped member spanning said arm and said bar and comprising a first depending leg on said U-shaped member fixedly secured to said bar, and a second depending leg on said U-shaped member slidably connected to said arm for exerting a push and a pull on said arm when said means is moved in one direction and in an opposite direction to said one direction, and a lever pivotally mounted on said swingable straight rail section for moving the same onto said reduced extension of said overhead trackway and for simultaneously moving said swingable curved rail section off said reduced extension by sliding said second depending leg of said U-shaped member relative to said arm in one direction to exert a push against said swingable curved rail section and alternately moving said swingable curved rail section onto said reduced extension of said overhead trackway and simultaneously moving said swingable straight rail section off said reduced extension by sliding said second depending leg of said U-shaped member in the opposition to exert a pull on said swingable curved rail section.

7. A hanger switch as defined in claim 6, and a stop element on said swingable curved rail section to limit its movement in one direction, and a stop element on said swingable straight rail section to limit its movement in one direction.

8. A hanger switch as defined in claim 6, and means for latching said lever in either one of its extreme positions of movement whereby the swingable. curved rail section or the swingable straight rail section may be locked in alignment with the track sections of the overhead trackway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,535,541 Le Fiell Dec. 26, 1950 2,746,397 Le Fiell May 22, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 218,865 Australia Nov. 11, 1958 4,118 Great Britain Feb. 21, 1903 709,084 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1952 

